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I've been flying ultralights for over 30 years. It seems to me that the reason why insurance was ever offered is because some airports required it in the early years. There have been multiple insurance offerings that have come and gone.

I've never met or heard of a ultralight owner that has bought the insurance the numerous times it's been available from various places in the last 30 years.

I can't understand how one would file a claim for hull damage. Who would write the damage estimate? An A&P isn't going to want to work on anything without an N-number. I doubt an insurance company is going to write a check to an owner on their statement about the loss or damage. What reporting body details the loss for a claim? There are not "ultralight accident insurance adjusters" running around.

And what liability does an ultralight create for anyone else? We're not supposed to be over populated areas. Crop damage from an off airport landing? "Causing" another airplane to crash? Who proves it's my fault rather than their fault?

I believe nearly everyone over the years has concluded it's a waste of money unless someone else [like an airport] is mandating you buy a policy.

I've been flying ultralights for over 30 years. It seems to me that the reason why insurance was ever offered is because some airports required it in the early years. There have been multiple insurance offerings that have come and gone.

I've never met or heard of a ultralight owner that has bought the insurance the numerous times it's been available from various places in the last 30 years.

I can't understand how one would file a claim for hull damage. Who would write the damage estimate? An A&P isn't going to want to work on anything without an N-number. I doubt an insurance company is going to write a check to an owner on their statement about the loss or damage. What reporting body details the loss for a claim? There are not "ultralight accident insurance adjusters" running around.

And what liability does an ultralight create for anyone else? We're not supposed to be over populated areas. Crop damage from an off airport landing? "Causing" another airplane to crash? Who proves it's my fault rather than their fault?

I believe nearly everyone over the years has concluded it's a waste of money unless someone else [like an airport] is mandating you buy a policy.

My thoughts.

-Buzz

I believe this is why the insurance companies will write one of these. They know its money in and no money out, for whom will they pay. But just try and get hanger insurance on that same airplane, so if something takes the hanger down the ultralight or experimental is covered. They will tell you they do not offer this, because now they might have to pay something out to someone.
Just a big scam to me. I need insurance or want insurance for when I am away from my airplane not when I am with it. I did have one insurance agent tell me 800 bucks a year to cover this non motion in hanger coverage. You have got to be kidding me 800 bucks a year to cover this.

Apparently at one time, Avemco did offer Ultralight vehicle insurance, both liability and hull coverage. I found an old(er) article saying they had (at the time the article was written) >400 active ultralight insurance policies. I'm sure other companies offered the same but not sure if that's the case today. Unfortunately, if ultralight activity is uninsurable, at least from a liability standpoint, it has effectively been choked.

The United States Ultralight Association has had one for quite some time but I've never heard of anyone buying the policy. As "insurance", it's pretty worthless I believe.

I've had USUA's third-party liability policy for nearly three years. I consider a liability policy to be essential, especially if my aircraft is going to be anywhere near other planes or any people.

The comments about determining hull value are moot since this is a liability only policy. I have the policy in case my Legal Eagle is somehow connected with a hangar fire, somebody walks into the spinning prop, the plane impacts another aircraft on the ground (hand-propping gone very bad???), or some other scenario where damage occurs as a result of my plane damaging/injuring another plane or person.

I would not base my UL on an airport without the insurance even if the airport allowed it (most won't). To put my family's entire assets at risk over a $10,000 aircraft is unconscionable for me when insurance is readily available. The policy offers $1,000,000 liability coverage plus a personal injury payment. The USUA policy was the only one I could find for a non N-numbered aircraft. Applications are available online.

I've had USUA's third-party liability policy for nearly three years. I consider a liability policy to be essential, especially if my aircraft is going to be anywhere near other planes or any people.

The comments about determining hull value.......aircraft is unconscionable for me when insurance is readily available. The policy offers $1,000,000 liability coverage plus a personal injury payment. The USUA policy was the only one I could find for a non N-numbered aircraft. Applications are available online.

I joined the USUA a few years back and got nothing for it. I did it just for the insurance; $35 bucks wasted. There was no activity on the web site, no mailings, nothing. I looked into the liability insurance and sent a form to whatever company/broker was handling it-again, nothing. I was informed they had disbanded and basically I had sent my money to whoever was the last contact to collect it-thank you very much. I can assume by your post that they've resurrected and are again in business. Good luck with them and I hope they're doing things correctly now.

I joined the USUA a few years back and got nothing for it. I did it just for the insurance; $35 bucks wasted. There was no activity on the web site, no mailings, nothing. I looked into the liability insurance and sent a form to whatever company/broker was handling it-again, nothing. I was informed they had disbanded and basically I had sent my money to whoever was the last contact to collect it-thank you very much. I can assume by your post that they've resurrected and are again in business. Good luck with them and I hope they're doing things correctly now.

I don't know the details but I was told by an individual who is now connected with USUA that a few years ago the association officers walked. It is now staffed by a couple of volunteers who are trying to get it back up to speed. But regardless of the association's health, it exists and the third-party policy is available. I have a signed policy in hand.

I hope they make a go of it because if the USUA tanks again, there may not be any insurance for non N-numbered aircraft. At that point I would be forced to N-number the Legal Eagle in order to obtain liability coverage. I have no interest in hull coverage because the hull value is low and I self-insure the hull.